What we're looking at
Senate President Russell Pearce, who is fighting for his seat in a Nov. 8 recall election, said he was a “driving force” to establish the Polytechnic campus of Arizona State University, which is located just west of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa.

The comment
“I was one of the driving forces to bring Polytechnic to the East Valley to expand the opportunities for our children for a quality education.”

The forum
Mesa Chamber of Commerce recall-candidate forum on Oct. 6.

Analysis
ASU Poly opened under the name Arizona State University East in January 1995, several years before Pearce's first term in the Legislature.

ASU President Michael Crow proposed in 2004 that the campus be renamed, reflecting its emphasis on technology. The new name became official July 1, 2005.

In early 2006, Pearce, who was then in the House of Representatives, was among a group of southeast Valley lawmakers who made a big push for the Legislature to appropriate money for three classroom and office buildings on the campus. They called it their highest legislative priority that year.

Virgil Renzulli, ASU vice president for public affairs, said Pearce's efforts that year were crucial to Poly's development.

“Mr. Pearce led an effort to get $103 million worth of academic buildings at Poly, Renzulli said. “Without those Poly would not have evolved to the state it is now.”

Bottom line: Although Pearce did not have a hand in creating or renaming the campus, he is credited with providing money that was crucial to its growth and success.

Sources
Mesa Chamber of Commerce debate on Oct. 6.
Virgil Renzulli, ASU vice president for public affairs.
"Polytechnic building funds sought," The Arizona Republic, March 23, 2006
"Leaders notice school potential," letter to the editor, The Arizona Republic, April 22, 2006

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AZ Fact Check is a service of The Arizona Republic, 12 News and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. It is not affiliated with www.FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.